Drafted out of Michigan State, Budde chose the AFL and the Chiefs over the NFL and the Philadelphia Eagles partly because fellow Spartan alum Fred Arbanas urged him to come to the new league. For 14 seasons, he held down the left guard position for the Chiefs, earning seven All-Star and Pro Bowl berths and a spot on the all-time American Football League team selected by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In 1968, Budde became the first offensive lineman to win AFL Offensive Player of the Week honors after he was instrumental in leading an undermanned Chiefs team to a 24-10 win over the Oakland Raiders. “I’ve never seen a guard play like that,” said linemate Dave Hill after the game. “It was the best game an offensive lineman can have.” Budde continued to serve as an anchor to the offensive line until his retirement in 1977. “I never saw so much love for one guy,” said his last head coach, Paul Wiggin. Budde later had the satisfaction of watching his son Brad play the same position for the Chiefs.